MJ2KB: Reflection of Community Efforts and Funding on Knox & Kane Rail Trail
The MJ2KB (Mount Jewett 2 Kinzua Bridge) Trail Club has begun work on extending the trail surface of the Knox & Kane Trail, almost another 4 miles from Mount Jewett to Lantz Corners.
The work is possible with grant funds from The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), area businesses, and Trail Club volunteers.
MJ2KB Trail Club President, Carolyn Stroup said the club adopted the next four miles of trail from Center Street in Mount Jewett to Lantz Corners shortly after the Mckean County Commissioners completed the initial 3.8 miles from the Historic Kinzua Railroad Bridge to Mount Jewett with a vision to mirror the same type of trail.
The first challenge was three Railroad trestles that had to be decked and railed. Grant funds for that project were provided through North Central Regional Planning and Development Commission and club volunteers did the work in 2019.
Next, it was found that many of the drain pipes under the rail bed had failed, so with money from Mckean County Act 13 funds, the Trail Group contracted with Keven Sluga to replace the failed wooden culverts with modern plastic pipes.
The last hurdle to mirror the surface on the first segment of the trail was to apply a new surface. Considering that the PENNDOT contract for the first 3.8 miles was almost $900,000, the MJ2KB Trail Club held several brainstorming sessions to consider how to deliver the same product cheaper.
After attending a pregrant session for DCNR Trail Grants, the club decided to apply for funds to build the trail surface themselves, by renting equipment and buying the material. The result is a savings of nearly $700,000 from a totally contracted trail that was built from the Kinzua Bridge State Park to Mount Jewett.
Community support was an important ingredient in this construction project. The Hannah Hamlin Foundation was an early contributor for some of the matching funds to purchase the special stone called Trail Surface Aggregate (TSA), Cleveland Brothers Lantz Corners Branch donated a Roller to compact the material and Meyers Trucking hauled away the deteriorated railroad ties left after the rails were removed.
DCNR is providing $182,200 toward the project, which is being matched by many volunteer hours of Trail Group Members. Equipment Rental is being provided by Duffy Inc. of Smethport, PA.
Other projects were funded by grants. National Fuel Charitable Foundation funded the Mount Jewett Trailhead Welcome Sign, Kiosk, the Bike Repair Station, designated Handicap Parking area, and two Interpretive Signs that are currently being created. The Lumber Heritage Region funded the Mural along the trail. The Women’s Giving Circle funded the Portable Toilet for two years at the Mount Jewett Trailhead.
Act 13 Greenways Funded the replacement and additional culverts to a section of the Rail Trail between Mount Jewett and Lantz Corners. The North Central Regional Planning & Development Commission funded decking and handrails on three railroad trestles.
Multiple grants, donations, memberships, and fundraisers help the MJ2KB Trail Club tremendously. Fundraisers
are held each year by all the trail clubs in this area to maintain and build additional miles of trail for our communities and visitors to Mckean County.
Joshua Hall is working towards his Eagle Scout (Troop 410), so he volunteered to build the pavilion along the Knox & Kane Rail Trail near the first trestle leaving Mount Jewett last fall, 2021.
The Boy Scouts of Troop 410 also donated and located birdhouses along the Knox & Kane Rail Trail near the Kinzua Bridge State Park at the end of the trail.
Another pavilion was built between Hacker Street in Mount Jewett and the Knox & Kane Rail Trail, donated by donations from the Mckean County Association of Realtors. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is being held on June 2 at the pavilion to recognize the Association for the “generous” donation.
The MJ2KB Trail Club also recognized funding from the Walmart Giving Fund to landscape and beautify the area around this pavilion, which is planned for later this summer, 2022.
North Central PA Regional Development & Planning Commission awarded the MJ2KB Trail Club $25,000, which will help in purchasing material for guard rails on sections of the Knox & Kane Rail Trail between Mount Jewett and Lantz Corners. This project will get started later this year and will be finished in 2023.
On June 4, the Mount Jewett Hilltop Heritage Coalition and the Mount Jewett to Kinzua Bridge Trail Club collaborated on an event, Superhero Fun Run/walk beginning at 9 a.m. Anyone can participate as their favorite hero (or create your own) and join the first annual Mount Jewett Superhero Fun Run/walk to participate in Celebrate Trails Day. The event will start at the Mount Jewett Trailhead in Mount Jewett (Center Street) with another starting point at Knox & Kane Rail Trail near the Skywalk at the Kinzua Bridge State Park.
To participate in the event, pick up your form at the Mount Jewett Memorial Library or at facebook.com/mj2kbtrail.club/.